Rhinos hard at work ahead of new season

WITH the kick-off to the Moor Cup just a stone’s throw away, Rhinos players having been hard at work in preparation of the upcoming season.

This year will see a new look to the popular club rugby league, with the inclusion of First Division teams, Jaguars, South Coast Warriors and Newcastle Highlanders.

This means that the league has expanded from eight teams to eleven which will change the format of the competition.

But that is not the only exciting change for the 2016 season.

Rhinos have welcomed former Richards Bay 1 coach, Graham Beukes into the fold.

Beukes will coach the second team and assist Rhinos 1 head coach Riaan Pienaar with the first team.

Daniel Oosthuizen will also assist the first team when available.

Local rugby players have been pushed through their paces by the coaching staff, in order to conform to the game plan for the new season.

Pre-season training is every Tuesday and Thursday evening at Mick Kelly Park from 6pm to 7.30pm.

‘I challenge all the youngsters sitting at home to get off the couch and come out and join the club for the new season,’ said Pienaar.

One round of trials will be held on Wednesday 17 February (kick-off 7pm) where a squad of 25 players will be selected to go on a tour to Nelspruit from 25-27 February.

That squad will play one match where the coaches will look at different combinations before heading into their three warm-up games scheduled.

With Beukes bringing his coaching experience, new ideas and tactics to the club, a buzz of excitement looms over the training fields.